Broken Heart, Divorce, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Have Common Threads & Symptoms. PTSD has been spotlighted in returning war Veterans but it also affects millions of people who suffer, or witness, a tragedy or loss. Any form of traumatic incident, including, “mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes”[1] are susceptible to PTSD and its symptoms. That means that significant emotional trauma, like divorce, dissolution of partnership, discovery of infidelity, breach of trust and many other events can induce PTSD. A broken heart and PTSD can be commonly associated. Ms. Melissa Kantor, author of The Breakup Bible, relates a candid and vivid description of a painful break-up and that “the pain can feel agonizing, all-encompassing, and eternal. Many describe that the actual breakup and ensuing weeks feel like an out-of-body experience. Along with the suffering comes a roller coaster of complex feelings: embedded grief, abandonment and fear, guilt, monstrous rage, [and even] seeing healthy people behave insanely when they have been rejected.” Depending on the length of the relationship, depth of emotional vesting and how the relationship ended are all causal factors…

PTSD should be categorized as a PTSD Injury, or PTSI. “Post-traumatic stress disorder” is a label given to a set of symptoms set forth in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association 1994), the clinical manual treatment providers used to determine diagnoses. DSM-5 was revised in 2013 as an update to the 1994 edition, but in many experts’ opinions, the draft model which was surrounded by controversy, did not go far enough. During the drafting and debate process, even experts in the field were unable to agree on diagnosis, and what characteristics and symptoms will be considered diagnostic for the disorder, as well as the future name for PTSD. The name, PTSD, was created in 1980 as a new diagnosis, and further codified in DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association 1994. PTSD was used most often in reference to victims of combat, the term was “shell shock,” “battle fatigue” and “soldier’s heart.” Diagnoses in any medical specialty are important because they allow for standardization of diagnosis and treatment by the medical and mental health communities as well as reimbursement and payment by insurers. Having the PTSD diagnosis has helped millions of people in various ways: It gave…

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are Brené Brown, a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging, shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living—a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness, and how to limit our exposure to what makes us feel inadequate.

Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow “If we can stay awake when our lives are changing, secrets will be revealed to us—secrets about ourselves, about the nature of life, and about the eternal source of happiness and peace that is always available, always renewable, already within us.” —ELIZABETH LESSER During times of transition, amid everyday stress, and even when we face seemingly insurmountable adversity, life offers us a choice: to turn away from change or to embrace it; to shut down or to be broken open and transformed. In the more than twenty-five years since she cofounded the Omega Institute—now the world’s largest personal-growth and spiritual retreat center—Elizabeth Lesser has been an intimate witness to the ways in which human beings deal with change, loss, and difficulty. She herself has struggled to submit to what she calls the “Phoenix Process”— allowing herself to be broken open in order to rise like the mythical bird from the ashes of past mistakes and suffering. In this beautifully written, often funny, and always inspiring book, Lesser has gathered together true stories about ordinary people who by design or disaster decided to step boldly into a fuller life. Here are profoundly…

Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You It’s over–and it really hurts. But as unbelievable as it may seem when you are in the throes of heartache, you can move past your breakup. Forget about trying to win your ex back. Forget about losing yourself and trying to make this person love you. Forget it! Starting today, this breakup is the best time to change your life for the better, inside and out. Getting Past Your Breakup is a proven roadmap for overcoming the painful end of any romantic relationship, even divorce. Through her workshops and popular blog, Susan Elliott has helped thousands of clients and readers transform their love lives. Now, she’ll help you put your energy back where it belongs–on you. Her plan includes: The rules of disengagement: how and why to go “no contact” with your ex How to work through grief, move past fear, and take back your life The secret to breaking the pattern of failed relationships What to do when you can’t stop thinking about your ex, texting, calling, checking social networking sites, or driving by the house Complete with inspiring stories…